US Homeland Security secretary calls for more travel bans

December 2, 2025

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced plans to recommend a comprehensive travel ban targeting countries she accuses of contributing to criminal activity in the United States. This proposal follows a shooting incident in Washington DC involving an Afghan national who entered through a refugee program for those who assisted American forces during the Afghanistan war. The Trump administration has responded by suspending all asylum decisions and initiating reviews of immigration policies, while threatening broader migration restrictions on developing nations.

Who is affected

Secretary Kristi Noem
President Donald Trump
Two National Guard members (Sarah Beckstrom, killed; Andrew Wolfe, seriously injured)
100,000 Afghan nationals who entered under Operation Allies Welcome
The suspect (an Afghan national who entered in 2021)
Asylum seekers and refugees from 19 countries (predominantly in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean)
The Afghan Community Coalition of the United States
Green card holders from the 19 listed countries
Illegal migrants subject to deportation efforts
The United Nations

What action is being taken

Noem is recommending a full travel ban on multiple countries
The DHS is overhauling the vetting process for Afghan nationals
All asylum request decisions have been halted
Joseph Edlow is reviewing green cards issued to individuals from 19 countries
The Trump administration is enacting mass deportations of illegal migrants

Why it matters

This represents a significant expansion of US immigration restrictions that could affect thousands of asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants from developing nations. The policy shift threatens to reverse commitments made to individuals who assisted American military operations abroad, particularly Afghan allies during the 20-year deployment. It also raises concerns about international asylum obligations and could fundamentally alter America's approach to refugee resettlement and immigration from poorer nations.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC